Truss.



Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

B. H. L F. C. HICKOK.

TRUSS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II, 1915.

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TRUSS;

latam- Application filed .Tune 11, 19,15.

part of this specification, 'and'to the letters,

and figures of reference markedthereon,

The object of `ourinvention, I generally I stated, is toprovide` a truss havingy charac-` teristics of, frame structure `and pad which render it'light, capable of ealsy; and certain adjustmentwhile onthebody' without the disconnection, or separation of ,any j parts and capable of automatically, conforming to the bending movementsifof,the body.

Other objects and advantages will appear when the nature ofthe invention is hereinfk after set forth more in detail. i

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a truss embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one of the pads.

Our truss frame is composed of a pair of similar rods or bars 10 that are slidably connected by an eye or loop 11 on one end of each through which the other rod passes, the eye 11 of one dipping or inclining down and the eye of the other inclining up, so that the portions of the two rods between the two eyes are placed one above the other, and virtually parallel. The Obliquity, or inclination of the eyes is such that the portion of the rod within an eye is pinched or clamped with sufficient pressure to prevent slipping of the rod accidentally, while permitting intentional longitudinaly movement in either direction by a pull of the hands, for the purpose of shortening or lengthen-V ing the traine to suit the size of the body, or to vary the pressure of the pads at the desired point. The rods or bars are made of flexible spring metal to facilitate both the sliding action when required and the clamping action of the eyes.

The frame-forming wires are bent on a simple curve from the outer ends forward, so as readily to conform to the form of the body, and they will bend or flex when applied to the body, but while at all times maintaining the desired pressure upon the pads.

Specification of Letters `Patent. Ptmtgd NGV, 16, 1915.

Serial No. 33,449.

Upon the upper bar or rod l0, we pivotf ally mount lpreferably two pads 13, each pad having ,on its outer side a pivoting loop' 14s; through which the. rod passes,y said-loop being placed below theverticalcenter of the.

pad (which ,is preferably. oblong) `so thatr the pad reaches well up l.on the w-allofthe.l

abdomema desirable thing in thek case of acorpulent person in Ithat any danger is, avoided ofthe intestinesresting upon/the top of thepad, e

Another very important advantage .ofthis eccentric pivoting of the pad is that the portion above the pivot becomesan effective leverof goodf'length $0, thatbythe pressure of the body Ioutwardly upon it, as in` stoopl ing, 'the lower,r portion which isy situated i over theI rupture j is; pressed inward, thus j exerting` an inward closing pressure. ,underconditions, which make it highlydesirable,

We pivotthe pads upon the upper wire so that as they afrelocated atthe iiinerfsidesl of. both wires, the lower wire will act as a stop to limit the outward swing of the pads o at their lower ends in consequence of their unbalanced condition and thus serve to maintain the pads in substantially a vertical condition and thereby facilitating, or rendering more convenient the .application of the truss to the body. Besides the pivotal motion upon the upper frame rod 10, backward and forward, we provide for an oscillating movement sidewise by pivotally connecting the loop 14 to the pad on a hori- Zontal axis at right angles to the aXis which the frame rod constitutes, so that in reality each pad is supported by a universal joint that allows any desired adjustment of the position of the pad, and hence, the pad can have the fiat form shown and does not require any spherically curved, or other convexly rounded configuration on the bodyengaging side.

Each pad is preferably made of a sheet metal plate 15, to which is secured a soft body 1G, preferably of sponge rubber, which is' on the body-engaging side of the pad. Besides the swinging adjustment of the pads that are possible, each pad is shiftable lengthwise of the frame, and a Simple and efficient means for fixing its position consists of a pair of rings, or collars 17, one on either side of the padpivoting loop 14, which rings, or collars are shiftable along the upper rod 10 and being made of rubber, or some other friction producing material remain at the points to n Which they areY shifted Without the necessity of employing any holding device, While being readilyVV shiftable under proper pressure Vof the rlv.l

gers.

u eye or loop 19 for engagement by Va hook 21 Which may be of Well-known construction. Said frame is designed to extend only across the front of the body, on aline With the rupture. As Will beV evident, adjustmentl of the frame'lengthvvise can be easily Y and quickly done Without' removing the appliance from the body, for merely a sliding movement of one rod l0 along the other is required.V v v Having thusdescribed lour invention What l. Atruss comprising a frame formed of rods, each rod having an'eye through Which the other rod passes and through which it is slidable fto vary the length of the frame,

i each eye being integral With its rod and exn tending obliquely of the rod Which passes (Japiesir of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

At the outer end each Yframe rod has 'any throughwit to exert a elampingelect and a pad mountedyupony said frame. 2. A truss comprising a frame formed ofV f saidrods below the vertical center of the pad, said supporting rod being arranged above the other rod. y Y,

'8. l truss comprising a frame formed of rods, each rod having an'eye through which the other rod is slidable to vary the lengthV of the frame' each eye being integral with its rod and extending obliquely of the rod Which passes through itto exert alclamping eiiect; a pad supported by said frame, and a band extending between the outer ends of said rods, Vthe outer ends of said rods being formed into eyes forthe attachment of said bands.

In testimony vvhereof'vve alixour signatures in-presence of tvv'o Witnesses.

' BARTON H. HIoKoK. Y FREDERICK HICKOK.

Witnesses: D. R. HARRISON,

H. H. CRossEN.

Commissioner of Patents, 

